Machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing



Aug. 15, 1944. H. E. EDWARDS MACHINE FOR CUTTING RINGS FROM CYLINDRICALTUBING 6 Sheets-Shetl vnullllhllll Filed Nov. 14, 1941 Aug. 15, 1944. H.E. EDWARDS 2,356,038

MACHINE FOR CUTTING RINGS FROM CYLINDRICAL TUBING Filed Nov. 14, 1941 re Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 15, 1944. H. E. EDWARDS MACHINE FOR CUTTING RINGSFROM CYLINDRICAL TUBING Filed Nov. 14, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 15, 1944-H. E. EDWARDS 2,356,038

MACHINE FOR CUT'iING RINGS FROM GYL INDRICAL TUBING Filed Nov. 14, 1941-6 Sheets -Sheet 4 g- 5 1944. H. E. EDWARDS MACHINE FOR CUTTING RINGSFROM CYLINDRICAL TUBING s sheets-sum 5 Filed Nov. 14, 1941 man I i QAQ 30 n; y o 0 Aug. 15, 1944. H, E. EDWARDS MACHINE-FOR CUTTING RINGS FROMCYLINDRICAL TUBING Filed Nov. 14, 1941' s Sheets-Sheet e Patented Aug.15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE MACHINE FOR CUTTING RINGS FROMGYLINDRICAL TUBING Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for cutting rings fromcylindrical tubing.

In the munition field it is customary to encompass every shell by whatis known as a retating band. The bands are rings made from bronzeseamless tubing which vary in diameter from twenty millimeters tosixteen inches.- The walls of the tube vary in thickness and the widthof the ring varies also. The brass mills have expanded rapidly theirproduction in seamless tubing, but heretofore have been unable to expandcorrespondingly their equipment for cutting rings from the tubing. Thepresent practice is to supply a given length of tubing to thecutting-off machine, said tubing being projected in a stationary mannerbeyond the edge of a work support to a distance which permits a circularsaw to pass by the end of the work support and through the full diameterof the stationary tube. There are at least three objections to thismethod.

First, as the cutting nears completion, the power exerted by thecircular saw against the stationary tubing becomes greater than theopposing strength of the unsawed tubing. In actual practice the ringbeing sawed gives way or bends in the final cutting. This bending isrefiected in a burr or fin left on the cut ring as it drops from thetubing. The fin must be removed by a burring operation performed by handor otherwise. y

Second, the diameter of the cutting saw is governed by the diameter ofthe tubing. Actually, it is found that it would be impracticable to cuta four inch tube with a saw of less than ten inches in diameter. As thediameter of the cutting saw increases the width of the cutting edge mustbe increased to provide the rigidity in the saw for precision cutting.In actual practice it is found that as the width of the cutting edgeincreases, the wastage in the cutting operation also increases, whichbecomes an important factor when the rings are cut from valuable orscarce materials.

Third, regardless of the diameter of a saw in cutting through a tubewhich is rigidly supported when presented to it, the flexibilitynecessary to make a saw practical and the normal play in the variousparts of the machine is reflected ina relative degree in a lack ofprecision in the rin out from the tube.

The principal object of the present invention is to produce a machinefor cutting rings from cylindrical tubing which will obviate at leastthe three objections referred to.

In the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may behereinafter described, the features of the present invention relate tocertain devices and combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claimswhich possess advantages readily apparent to those Skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be readily understoodfrom an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the bestform of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which,

Figure l is a view in plan of the machine, the cover having beenremoved;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation, the cover having been replaced;

Fig. 3 is a view in back elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view in left side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view in sectional elevation on the line 5--5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 66, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in sectional plan on the line 1-'l, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 88, Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 (Sheet 1) is a detail view, (broken away), in sectional elevationon the line 9-9, Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 (Sheet 2) is a detail view in front elevation showing theoperation of the tube and the cutters, and

Fig. 11 (Sheet 5) is a view in front sectional elevation on the linell-l I, Fig. 1, of the work support and the tube guiding finger.

The cutting tool, Figs. 1 and 9, comprises a series of thirty-one sawsl2 each mounted on a shaft l3 journaled in bearings l4 and IE on theframe I6 of the machine. Each saw 12 differs in diameter from everyother saw in the series, the series varying in diameter successivelyfrom the left, Fig. 1 to the right thereof, the smallest saw located atthe left Fig. 1 and the largest saw at the right. The saws are spaced bya washer I! the width of the ring to be cut. In assembling the cuttingtool on the shaft l3 the saw l2 having the largest diameter is placed onthe shaft l3 against an elongated collar l8 thereon. After inserting awasher IT on the shaft I3 to the left, Figs. 1 and 9, of the previouslypositioned saw l2, the largest of the remaining saws is positionedagainst the washer I! on the shaft l3. the shaft 13 against the secondsaw in the series After another washer I! is positioned on.

the remaining saws and the spacing members are positioned as previouslydescribed, until the thirty-one saws and the thirty-one washers arelocated on the shaft E3. The cutting tool is held rigid in position onthe shaft I?! by an elongated collar l9 which is held on the shaft by anut 29 on the threaded end thereof. Pressure on the nut 20 clamps thecollar l9, the cutting tool and the collar 18 rigidly on the shaft l3.The shaft is rotated in a'clock-w'ise direction (Fig. 3), from somesuitable source of power through a double belt 20A (Fig. 1), whichpasses over two pulleys 2| on the shaft I3.

The tubing, to be cut, is positioned on a'work support having a flatwork supporting surface 22 (Fig. against an angle iron 23 securedthereto. against the angle iron during the cutting operation, by anelongated clamp 24 comprising an inverted V the arms of which arearranged to press upon the tube. The V is secured to a plate 25 securedto a rock shaft 26(Figs. l and 5), journaled in bearings 2.1 and 28 onbrackets 29 and 39, secured to the work support 22. The plate 25 isprovided with an angular member 3| (Fig. 5), through the-free end ofwhich is threaded a rod 32 which may be manipulated through the handle33 to engage the vertical wall of the work support and thus actuate theclamp 24 to grip the tubing. At the left hand end of the work support 22(Fig. 1), the tubing is guided by the engagement with a curved piece orfinger of fiat material 34 (Fig. 11), which extends over the angle iron23 from its position of attachment to the work support. As shown in Fig.l, the right hand wall of the clamp 24 is provided with thirty slots 35which are arranged in the vertical planes of the respective saws exceptthe largest. This saw, which is the first saw at the right (Fig. 1), isnot used for sawing, but as it extends beyond the clamp 24 with itsinner face substantially in the plane of the face of the stop 62 (Fig.1), is employed as a guard to hold the first ring in position afterbeing cut.

The tubing is positioned on the work support 22 through a centralopening (Fig. 2), in a sprocket wheel 36 journaled on the work support.On one face of the sprocket wheel 36 are two adjustable fingers 31 and39. Each finger slides in Ways 39 secured to the face of the sprocketwheel and is secured in its adjusted position by a washer 40 (Fig. 8),-interposed between the finger and a nut 4| the shank of which passesthrough a central slot 42 in the finger and is-threaded onto thesprocket wheel. After the tubing is positioned on the work support byits engagement with the fingers 3'! and 38 it is clamped thereon by athird finger 43 which is pivoted on the sprocket wheel. The finger 43 isprovided with a series of inclined teeth 44 (Fig. 2). The finger 43 isprovided with an operating arm 45. The

chain 48 which is rotated by a sprocket wheel 49 on a shaft'50 (Fig. 4),journaled on bearings 5| and 52 carried from the machine frame. Theshaft 50 is provided with a pulley 53 about which a belt 54 passes whichalso passes around a pul- The tube is held on the work support themachine frame. The shaft 56 carries loosely a large gear 51 (Figs. 6 and7) which is driven by a small gear 58 mounted on end of a stub shaft 59journaled on the machine frame. The other end of the shaft 59 carries apulley 69 (Fig. 3), which is rotated by a belt 6| driven by somesuitable source of power.

The tubing is positioned on the work support 22 against an adjustablestop 62 (Fig. 1). The stop 62 is adjustably mounted on one end of a bellcrank lever 63 which is loosely mounted on the rock shaft 26 between theright hand end of the plate 25, viewing Fig. 1, and the bearing 28 forthe shaft 26. The other end of the bell crank lever 63 is pivoted to oneend of a link 64 (Fig. 4), the other end of which is pivoted to one endof an arm 65 pivoted to the work support 22.

ley secured to a rock shaft 56 journaled on, 79

The other end of the arm is shaped as an opening handle 66. The bellcrank lever 63 is provided with pin 61 to which one end of a coiledspring 68 is connected, the other end of the spring being connected to apin 69 projecting from the work support.

The work support 22 (Fig. 4) is provided with a pair of pins 10 each ofwhich is mounted to rock in the frame of the machine. The work support22 has a depending slotted arm H which carries a pin 12 to which'an arm13 (Fig. 5) is pivoted. The lower end of the arm 13 is slotted andcarries a pin 14 on which a roll 15 is held against the periphery of acam 76 by a coiled spring 11 (Figs. 2 and 4) one end of which isconnected to a pin 18, projectin laterally from the arm H depending fromthe work support 22, and the other end of which is connected to a plate79 depending from the frame of the machine.

The cam 16 is mounted on a short horizontal shaft 99 journaled on abracket depending from the machine frame. At its left hand end, Figs. 6and 7,; the shaft 88 carries a worm Wheel Bl which is driven by a worm82 on one end of a shaft 83 journaled in a bearing 84 on the machineframe. The other end of the shaft 83 car-- ries a gear 85-which engagesa gear 86 on the shaft 56. v

v The shaft 56 carries a clutch sleeve 81 (Fig. '7)

which is splined on the shaft and is provided- 9| secured to the machineframe. Secured to the arm 90 is a forked arm 92 having two blocks 93and'94 arranged to engage respectively, two depressions on oppositesides of the clutch sleeve 81. The'free end of' the arm 99 is pivoted toone end-of a link 95 the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 96which is pivoted'to a strap 91 supported by bracket 98 secured to themachine frame. The free end of the arm 96 is shaped as an operatinghandle 99 for the operative to engage and disengage the clutch.

The normal position of the roll' 15 may be -moved toward or from theperiphery of the cam To this end the- The rod IOI.

a rotary pump I06 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the machine frame, which isdriven by a pulley I01 on the pump shaft [08 (Fig; 3). The pulley H1! isdriven by a belt [09 from a pulley l I which is secured to the shaft 55.The pump I06 discharges lubricant outof the pipe [H to the free end ofwhich a flexible hose H2 is connected. The'free end of the hose H2 isprovided with a plug H3 by which the hose H2 is directed to dischargethe lubrication through a-cover H4 secured at one end to the elongatedclamp 25, the otherend of the cover working loosely in a tank- H5secured to the frame of the machine. The tank H5 carries a smallscreened receptacle I I6 from which the lubricant is drawn through thepipe connection HT connected to'thepump. The work support 22 carries asplash guard H8 (Figs. 1 and 5) which directs the lubricant into thetank H5.

In operation, the elongated cylindrical tubing is pushed through theopening in the sprocket wheel 36, with its end beneaththe finger 34, onthe work support 22 until its front end engages the stop 62 which hasbeen manipulated into stopping position by the operative. The clamp 24is then actuated to grip the tubing on the Work support. The operatingarm 45 is then manipulated to anchor'the tubing to its rotatingmechanism. The stop 62 is then moved out of engagement with the tubing.Themachine is next to largest saw leaves the rotating tube, but

is held in position by engagement between the first and second saws atthe right of Figs. 1 and 9. The second ring, out from the tubing by thethird largest saw, leaves the rotating tube, but

is held in position by engagement with thesecond and third saw at theright of Figs. 1 and 9. This action takes place'successively until allthe rings are severed from the tubing. At this time the roll has beenmoved to the position of Fig. 2 which indicates the cutting operationhas been completed. The clutch sleeve 81. is then actuated to stop therotation of the tubing and the cam 16, and the clamp 24 is actuated torelease the tubing on the work support. The tubing is then unclampedfrom the sprocket wheel 36 and is pushed forwardly. The thirty ringssevered from the tube are thus pushed forwardly to discharge them down arunway I2 I Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is described asbeing provided with a shaft for the cutting tool mounted parallel to therotating tube. This is to be considered as the preferred mode ofoperation as it is obvious the rotating tube and the shaft for thecutting tool may rotate about non-parallel axes, providmechanical formof the invention and to the use to which it is put, the invention is notlimited as to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use ofits features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are.essential since they may be modified within the skill of the ed theoperating tool is made up of saws uniform artisan without departing fromthe true scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of whichare set forth in the following claims by the intentional use of genericterms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a plurality of saws,means for rotating the tool, a flat work supporting surface, a clamp forloosely clamping alength of tubing on the work supporting surface, saidclamp being provided with slots into which the peripheries of therespective saws may pass freely in cutting the rings from thecylindrical tubing, means for rotating the length of tubing relativelyto the supporting surface, and means for relatively moving the rotatingtool and the rotating tubing to cause the plurality of saws to cut ringsfrom the cylindrical tubing.

2. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising 'a plurality of saws,means for rotating the tool, a flat work supporting surface, a clamp forloosely clamping a length of tubing on the work supporting surface, saidclamp being provided with slots into which the peripheries of therespective saws may pass freely in cutting the rings from thecylindrical tubing, means for rotating the length of tubing, and meansfor holding against movement axially of the tubing at least one of therings cut from the tubing by the saws during the continued rotation ofthe tubing.

3. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a plurality of saws,means for rotating the tool, a flat work supporting surface, a clamp forloosely clamping a length of tubing onthe work supporting surface, saidclamp being provided with slots into which the peripheries of therespective saws may pass freely in cutting the rings from thecylindrical tubing, means for rotating the tubing on the work supportingsurface beneath the clamp, and means for relatively moving the rotatingtool and the rotating tubing to bring the operating tool into contactwith the rotating tubing and for passing the operating tool through thetubing while it is loosely clamped on the work supporting surface.

4. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a plurality of saws,means for retating the tool, a flat work supporting surface, a clamp forloosely clamping a length of tubing on the work supporting surface, saidclamp having fingers, being spaced no wider than the rings to be cutfrom the cylindrical tubing, means for rotating the length of tubing,and means for relatively moving the rotating tool and the work to causethe operating too] to pass through the work and into the spaces betweenthe fingers to cut rings from the cylindrical tubing.

5. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a series of sawsgraduated in size from large to small, means for rotating the tool, awork support, a clamp for loosely clampin a lengthof tubing on the worksupport, said clamp being provided with slots into which the peripheriesof the respective saws may pass freely in cutting the rings from thecylindrical tubing, means for rotating the length of tubing, and meansfor relatively moving the rotating tool and the rotating tubing tobringthe plurality of saws into working contact with the rotatingtubing, whereby the saws successively sever rings from the tubing, thesmallest saw in the series severing a ring from the tubing last.

6. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool, means for rotating the tool, aflat work supporting surface, a clamp for loosely clamping a length oftubing on the flat work supporting surface, means for rotating thetubing, means for relatively moving the cutting tool and the rotatingtubing to bring the cutting tool into working contact with the rotatingtubing while it is loosely clamped on the flat work supporting surface,and rotary means coming into engagement with one end of the tubing forholding the material out from the tubing in place upon the worksupporting surface.

7. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a, rotatable cutting tool, means for rotating the tool, awork support, a clamp for loosely clamping a length of tubing on thework support, means for rotating the tubing, means for bringing thecutting tool into working contact with the rotating tubing, a stop forlocating the tubing in position, and rotary means coming into engagementwith one end of the tubing for holding the material out from the tubingin place upon the work support.

8. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a plurality of saws,means for rotating the tool, a work support having a, flat worksupporting surface, mechanism for rotatin a length of tubing relativelyto the work supporting surface, a single clamp for clamping the tubingto the mechanism, a second clamp interposed between the first clamp andan end of the tubing for clamping loosely the length of tubing on thework supporting surface, said second clamp being provided with slotsinto which the peripheries of the respective saws may pass freely incutting the rings from the cylindrical tubing, and means for relativelymoving the rotating tool and the rotating tubing to cause the pluralityof saws to cut rings from the cylindrical tubing.

9. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a plurality of saws,means for rotating the tool, mechanism for rotating. a length oftubing,a single clamp for clamping the tubing to the mechanism, a work supporthaving a fiat work supporting surface, a, second clamp interposedbetween the first clamp and one end of the tubing for clamping looselythe length of tubing on the work supporting surface, said second clampbein providedwith slots into which the peripheries of the respectivesaws may pass freely in cutting the rings from the cylindrical tubing,means for moving the rotating tubing toward the rotating tool to causethe plurality of saws to cut rings from the cylindrical tubing, two ofthe saws adjacent the said end of the tubing retarding the rotation of aring out from the tubing during its continued rotation in contact withthe remaining saws.

10. A machine for cutting rings from cylindrical tubing having, incombination, a rotatable cutting tool comprising a plurality of saws,means for rotating the tool, mechanism for rotating a length of tubing,a single clamp for clamping the tubing to the mechanism, a work supporthaving a flat work supporting surface, a second clamp interposed betweenthe first clamp and one end of the tubing for clamping loosely thelength of tubing on the work supporting surface, said second clamp beingprovided with slots into which the peripheries of the respective sawsmay pass freely in cutting the rings from the cylindrical tubing, meansfor moving the rotating tubing toward the rotating tool to cause theplurality of saws to cut rings from the cylindrical tubing, each pair ofsaws progressively from the said end of the tubing frictionallyarresting the rotation of a ring out from the tubing during itscontinued rotation with the remaining saws.

. HERBERT E. EDWARDS.

